Automatic oil  feeding and regulating valve



3l; R528.` f 1,657,807 w. R. RAY

AuTolm'Ic 611, FEEDING 1mb REGULATING VALVE Filed Juize 26. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORNEYS.

AUTOHATIC OIL' FEEDING'AND REGULATING VALVE Filed June 26. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Jan. l31, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM RAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC OIL FEEDING AND .REGULATIN G VALVE.

Application led June 26, 1926. Serial No. 118,772.

This invention relates to an automatic oil feeding and regulating valvefor oil burners of the atomizin type.

In. the operation of automatic oil burners of the atomizing type,whether rotary pressure actuated or otherwise, itis common practice toautomatically ignite the oil when the burner is started by means of agas flame, an electric spark or the like. l

In order to insure ignition during the starting period, it is necessaryto adjust the burner so that a rich mixture is obtained, this beingusually manuallyaccomplished, and it is later necessary to reduce theoil feed 1| or mixture, as incomplete combustion would otherwiseresult.` It. is accordingly desir-v able,`esecially when oils of heavgravity are use to increase the oil supp y during the starting periodin' order to produce this 2o rich mixture, thus making ignition promptand positive. It is furthermore desirable to maintain this rich mixtureuntil the teniperature of the furnace is high enoughY to sustaincombustion, when the mixture may 26 be reduced to normal to insure aclear and smokeless liame. y

The object of the present invention is .to provide an oil feeding andregulating valve operable in conjunction with a burner of this 80 caracter -which will automatically deliver a rich mixture to the burnerdurin-g the startingperiod; to provide a valve of this character whichwill maintain the rich mixture until the furnace attains the propertemperature, and further, to provide a valve of this character whichwill automatically reduce the mixture to normal after proper temperaturehas been attained so as to insure a clear and smokeless flame.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in 1 the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section ofthe oil feeding and regulating valve, taken on line I--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the automatic oil feeding and regulating valve.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken' on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section and' side elevation of the oilfeeding yand regulating valve, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showin the osition ofthe automatic feedingan. regu ating valve with relation to anv oil burner and a pumpdelivering oil to the same. Y

Referring to the drawinfrs in detail, and particularly to Fig. 5, Adiagrammatically indicates an oil burner of the atoniizing i type,`B apower-driven pump ior delivering oil to the saine, C a storage tank forthe oil, D a pipe line connecting the tank with the pump, E a checkvalve in the pipe line, F an oil strainer in the pi e line, and G anautomatic oil feeding an regulating valve, which is interposed betweenthe pump and the burner. 'lhc automatic oil feeding and regulating valveforms the subject matter of the present application and it isconstructed and operated as follows:

Referring to Figs`. 1, 2, 3 and 4, G indicates a cylindrical shapedcasing, interiorly of which is formed a cylinder 2. Formed in one sideof the casing is a chamber 3f and communicating therewith is a pipe D,whereby oil from the pump B is delivered to the casin Formed above thechamber 3 is an over ow or return chamber 4 and communicating therewithis a pipe 5 which forms a return or overflow between the oil feeding andregulating valve and the storage tank C.4 Forming a communicationbetween the chambers '3 and 4 is a passage 6. The upper end of thispassage terminates in -a' valve seat 7 to receive a valve 8. This valveis normally held against the seat by means of a spi-in 9 and the tensionof this-spring is ad- ]uste by means of a screw 10. g Oil pumps employedin oil burner installations of this character are usually of the rotarygear typie and they are capable of building up consi erable pressures.The ressure built.4 up by the oil when delivere to the chamber 3 is inthis instance regulated and 95 controlled by the spring 9 acting' on thevalve 8; .that is, if a pressure of three pounds is desired', the spring9 is adjusted so that the valve 8 will automatically lift the moment thepressure in the chamber 3 -exceeds three 100 pounds. All sur lus oilsupplied by the pumpV will thus eby-passed to' enter the chai'nber 4 andwill then be returned by pipe 5 to the storage tank. The chamber 3 ilalso in communication `with a feed pipe 11; 105 (see Figs. 4 and 5) thisbeing the `pipe which j delivers oil to the burner.

The automatic regulating device controlling the flow of oil through thepi e 11 to the burner isin this instance provi ed with three valveswhich regulate the flow, these valves being interposed between thechamber 3 and the feed pipe 11. These valves are indicated at 14, and16, and will hereinafter be referred to as the running valve, which isindicated at 14, the starting valve, which is indicated at 15, and theautomatic valve, which is indicated at 16.

Formed in the upper end of the casing are three chambers such asindicated at 17, 18 and 19. Chamber 1 9 is in communication with theoveriow or return chamber 4 through means of a port 20 (see Fig. 1) andit is alsoi'in communication with t e upper end of the cylinder chamber2. The function of this chamber will hereinafter be described. Chamber17 is in communication with chamber 3 through means of the portindicated by dotted lines at 21 (see Fig. 1), and chamber 18 is incommunication with the feed pipe 11 and also with the chamber 17 throughports 22 and 23, the liow of oil 'through the port 22 being regulated bymeans of the running valve 14, and the flow of oil through the port 23being regulated by the automatic valve 16 and the starting valve 15.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be noted that the cylinder 2 isprovided with a weighted piston such as indicated at 25, and it willfurther be noted that the automatic valve 16 is normally held inengagement with a seat 16a by means of the piston. It will further benoted that this va ve is automatically lowered with relation to the seatwhen the piston is lowered throu h means of a s ring 16". The operationo the automatic oil feeding and regulating valve will be as follows:

When the burner is first started and the furnace is cold, it isdesirable, as previously stated, to deliver a rich mixture to the burnerso that i ltion will be insured. A rich mixture of t character isinsured in the present instance as the oil under pressure delivered tochamber 3 from pump l5V iirst builds up a ressure due to the tension ofthe spring 9 efore the surplus can overflow and return to the tankthrough the pipe 5. The oil under pressure in chamber 3 is'delivered tochamber 17 through port 21 and there dischargesthrough the valves 14, 15and 16 into chamber 18 from .wherenit is fed throu h pipe 11 to theburner, the amount of oi delivered -being re lated by the valves 14 and15. Part o the oil under pressure is also delivered to the lower endv ofthe cylinder 2 through, a port 30, a strainer 31 and a discharge orifice32. This orifice is comparatively small andcylinder 2 is accordinglyfilled at a fairly slow sneed. Piston is positioned at thevlower end ofthe cylinder when the burner is started, but as the oil slowly entersthe piston gradually rises and when it finally reaches its uppermostposition, as shown 1n Fig. 1, it engages the automatic valve 16 andforces it up against the seat 16, thereby automatically closing furtherHow ot oil through the valves 16 and 15. The time required to raise thepiston to its uppermost position, where it closes oil the valve 16 iscontrolled by the size of the orifice 32, or by providing a needle valveat this point as indicated by dotted lines at 32. It is thus possible toincrease or decrease the time period for the delivery of a rich mixtureto the burner.

In actual operation one and one-half to three minutes arc sufficient asthe furnace usually reaches ignition temperature by that time. When thepiston does reach its uppermost position and valve 16 is automaticallyclosed, the only oil delivered to the feed pipe ,11 and the burnerconnected therewith will be the oil which discharges through port 22into chamber 18. The amount of' oil there discharged is regulated by thevalve 14, 'which is termed the regulating valve, and

a normal mixture is thus insured after the furnace reaches ignitiontemperature, the amount of oil required during normal running beingregulated by the valve 14 and when once adjusted requires no furtherattention. The amount of oil discharging by the valve 15 is alsoadjusted to obtain the richness of mixture desired and requires nofurther attention thereafter. In other words all adjustments are madewhen the burner is installed and the ends of the valve stems 14 and 15are therefore provided with key extensions such as shown at 40. Themechanic installing the burner is equipped with a key such as shown at41, and after the mechanic has adjusted the valves, the key is removedso as to prevent tampering.

y The piston 25 remains in elevated position and the valve 16 in closedposition as long as the burner is in operation, but when the burner isclosed down and chamber 3 is relieved of pressure, piston 25 slowlysettles back to the bottom of the cylinder. It is filled with lead orotherwise weighted to lull insure such movement. When returning itforces the oil back through the orifice 32, the strainer 31, assage 30,chamber 3 and enters the ove ow chamber 4 through a port 42. Oil is infact dischar ing through this port at all times when the urner is inoperation, but it is so small that the amount escapingv does notinterfere withv the normal operation of the mechanism as a whole. `.Infact, if comparatively heavy crude oil is being burned, it is alsodesirable to form a port in the piston as indicated at 25. This portserves the same function as'the port 42 and accordingly permits 4thepiston to set tle more rapidly into ino erative position. Thecommunication forme between the upper end of the cylinder and thechamber 19 lll is to permit oil to freely discharge through the poi-t25, andalso to' prevent compression at the upper end of t e cylinderwhen the piston moves on its upward stroke.

A burner equipped with a valve of this character requires no manualattention when it is once installed and adjusted. It automaticallyinsures a rich mixture when the burner is started and it automaticallycuts off the rich mixture or reduces it to a normal fire the momentthefurnace reaches proper temperature. A smoking fire is prevented andpersonal attention is entirely obvated.

While certain features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes inform and Jproportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims. I similarly wish it understood thatv the materials and finish ofthe several parts employed may besuch as the experience and judgment ofthe manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. An oil feeding and regulating mechanism for oilburners comprising a casing having a chamber formed therein adapted toreceive oil under pressure, an oil feed discharge pipe connected withthe casing, a valve interposed between the oil receiving chamber and thefeed discharge pipe adapted to regulate the How of oil delivered to theoil feed discharge pipe, a second valve also interposed between the oilreceiving chamber and the feed discharge pipe and adapted to controlanexcess feed of oil to the discharge pipe, means normally maintainingsaid second-named valve in an open position, and 4means actuated by thepressure of the oil delivered to the casing for closing said valve aftera predetermined time pe-l riod.

2. An oil feeding and regulating mechanism for oil burners comprising acasing having a chamber formed therein adapted to receive oil underpressure, an oil feed discharge pipe connected with the casing, a valve,interposed between the oil receiving chamber and the feed discharge pipeadapted to regulate the flow of oil delivered to the oil feed dischargepipe, a second valve also interposed between the oil receiving chamberand the feed discharge pipe and adapted to control an excess feed of oilto the discharge pipe, a spring normally maintaining said second-namedvalve in an open position, a piston movable in one direction by oilunder pressure delivered to the casing and engageable with the secondnamed valve after a predetermined time period, said piston being movablein the opposite direction by gravity when oil deliver to the casing .isstopped so as to permit t e spring to again open the second named valve,and a third valve cooperating with the second-named valve and adapted toregulate the iow of oil by the second-named valve during its openperiod.

3. An oil feeding and regulating mechanism of' thechai'actei describedcomprising a casing, a chamber formed therein adaptedl interposedbetween the oil receiving chamber andthe feed discharge pipe, said valvebeing manually adjustable to control acontinuous flow of oil from theoil receiving chamber to the feed discharge pipe.

4. An oil feeding and regulating mechanism for oil burners comprising acasing having three chambers formed therein, 12owit, an oil receivingchamber, an oil discharging chamber, and an oil over-flow chamber, meansfor delivering oil under pressure to the receiving chamber, a valvebetween the receiving chamber and the overflow chamber, said valveregulating the Apressure of the oil in the receiving chamber and alsopermitting over-flow of excess oil into the over-How chamber, a`manually regulated valve disposed between the receiving chamber and thedischargechamber to regulate a normal iiow of oil to the dischargechamber, a second valvedisposed between the receiving chamber and thedischarge chamber and adapted to control a secondary flow of oil fromthe receiving chamber to the discharge chamber, said valve beingvnormally open, and means for automatically closing said valve at apredetermined time period after oil under pressure is delivered to thereceiving chamber.

5. An oil feeding and regulating mechanism for oil burners comprising acasing having three chambers formed therein, towit, an oil receivingchamber, an oil discharging chamber, and an oil over-flow chamber, meansfor delivering oil under pressure to the receiving chamber, a valvebetween the receiving chamber and the overflow chamber', said valveregulating the pressure of the oil in the receiving chamber and alsopermitting over-flow of excess oil into the over-flow chamber'gamanually regulated valve disposed between the receiving chamber and theAdischarge chamber to regulate a normal flow of oil to the dischargechamber, a second valve disposed between the receiving chamber and thedischarge chamber and adapted-'to control a secondary flow of oil fromthe receiving chamber to the discharge chamber, said valve beingnormally open, sprin actuated means whereby said second named valve isnormally maintained in an open position, a cylinder in the casing, and apiston in said cylinder, Said piston being gravity actuated to normalll. remain in one end of the cylinder and sai piston being movable in theo postc direction by oil underpressure w en oil is delivered to thereceiving chamber said piston during such movement adapt/ed to engagethe second named valve and move the same to a closed position at apredetermined time period after oil under pressure is de-y livered tothe receiving chamber.

WILLIAM R. RAY.

